Gypsophila plant named &#39;Pearls Grandtastic&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Gypsophila  plant particularly distinguished by very large, double flowers and an upright growth habit, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

An application with the Community Plant Variety Rights Office was filedon Apr. 4, 2017. ‘Pearls Grandtastic’ has not been made publiclyavailable or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of theinstant application.

Genus and species: Gypsophila paniculata L.

Variety denomination: ‘Pearls Grandtastic’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofGypsophila, botanically known as Gypsophila paniculata L., andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Pearls Grandtastic’.‘Pearls Grandtastic’ originated from an open-pollination conducted inNegev, Israel in April 2010 between the proprietary female Gypsophilavariety ‘BL-MD-F-56’ (unpatented) and an unnamed and unpatented maleGypsophila variety.

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation,where an individual plant designated ‘Pearls Grandtastic’ was selectedfrom the group of plants in Negev, Israel in August 2010.

In September 2010, ‘Pearls Grandtastic’ was first vegetativelypropagated by side branch cuttings. ‘Pearls Grandtastic’ was found toreproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagationvia side branch cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Negev, Israel.

-   -   1. Very large, double flowers; and    -   2. An upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Gypsophila plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's overall plant habit including form and flowers.The photograph is of a 22-week-old plant grown outdoors in Colombia inApril 2016. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Pearls Grandtastic’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inJuja, Kenya. Data was collected on 20-week-old plants grown outdoors inJuja, Kenya in September 2016. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2007.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.        -   Botanical.—Gypsophila paniculata L.        -   Common.—Baby's breath.        -   Designation.—‘Pearls Grandtastic’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Gypsophila variety            ‘BL-MD-F-56’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—An unnamed and unpatented male Gypsophila            variety.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Perennial, shrub type.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Height.—110.0 cm.        -   Width.—90.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—15 to 20 weeks;            3 to 4 weeks for rooting with 11 to 14 weeks between            planting and flowering, depending on weather and cultivation            conditions.        -   Propagation type.—Vegetative, by side branch cuttings.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 weeks, fully rooted            and ready for planting after 3 to 4 weeks.        -   Root description.—White to light brown, RHS 155A at root tip            and RHS 162D at the base; woody main spike with branched            fibrillary secondary roots.-   Flowering stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—6 to 9.        -   Basal branching.—Present.        -   Stem strength.—Stable.        -   General description.—Panicle.        -   Length.—90.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm to 0.8 cm at the stem base.        -   Internode length.—5.0 cm to 6.0 cm at the stem base.        -   Color.—RHS 147C (Yellow-Green).        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Cross section of leaf.—Moderately concave.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A.            Lower surface: RHS 137B.        -   Length.—6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.2 cm to 1.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Fine pubescence on both surfaces; more fine on the            upper surface than on the lower surface.        -   Venation type.—Parallel.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS            137B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound cymes with numerous flowers;            panicles.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round; 12 hours and above light            duration.        -   Lastingness of individual flowers on the plant.—10 to 12            days.        -   Lastingness of the flowers as a cut flower.—10 to 12 days.        -   Flower width.—1.0 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Flower depth.—0.7 cm to 0.8 cm.        -   Flower shape.—Oblate consisting of many double-type petals.        -   Flower profile, upper part.—Moderately convex.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, unpleasant smell.        -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—6 to 9.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—Average between 600 and            900.        -   Inflorescence pubescence.—Absent.        -   Flower buds.—Color: RHS 155 (White). Shape: Oblate. Length:            0.45 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Length (height): 90.0 cm. Diameter: 50.0 cm.            Strength: Stable. Texture: Glabrous. Color: RHS 138B.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 0.6 cm to 0.9 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.            Strength: Stable. Texture: Fine. Color: RHS 137C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Pompon. Quantity: 45 to 52 per flower.            Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Curvature of longitudinal axis of petal: Moderately            recurved. Size: Length: 0.45 cm. Width: 0.2 cm. Color: When            opening (both upper and lower surfaces): RHS 155A. Fully            opened (both upper and lower surfaces): RHS 155D. Surface            texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glabrous.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Like a cup. Quantity per flower: 5 to 7            . Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Length: 0.35 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color (both upper            and lower surfaces): RHS 147C (Yellow-Green). Surface            texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—None observed.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 . Pistil length: 1.0 cm to            1.2 cm. Style length: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Style color: RHS            181D. Stigma color: RHS 75D. Ovary color: RHS 137C.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘Pearls Grandtastic’ is distinguished from the female parent and thecommercial comparison variety ‘Million Star’ (patent status unknown) asdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line and Commercial Variety ‘PearlsFemale parent Commercial Variety Characteristic Grandtastic’‘BL-MD-F-56’ ‘Million Star’ Flower size Very large Large Small Flowertype Double Double Semi-double

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Gypsophila plant designated‘Pearls Grandtastic’ as illustrated and described herein.